Perhaps by reaching for the stars it was able to achieve an amazing first step. In 2019, it opened its first truly new habitat in decades. The new Lemur Habitat costs over 3.5 million and created a home for three species of Lemurs: Ring-tailed (4), White & Black Ruffed (2), and Crowned (2--now, 3 with the birth of a baby in 2024), Guinea Fowl (4) and Radiated Tortoise (3). They also renovated the huge habitat for their signature species, the Andean Condor.
The next major phase was a new animal welfare and quarantine facility that was completed in 2022. For such a small zoo, it is nothing short of amazing.


Originally the third phase would be led by the creation and expansion of the zoo's entrance. This plan involves a new pathway, a new entrance gate, a new large water feature built around a new multi-species habitat. The price tag for this sits at around 8 million. The state has committed half of that--which is pretty amazing. They collected contributions toward a quarter more. But given the gap, the project has been shifted to the final phase.
Replacing it with a new multi-season Habitat built at the "elbow" of the plaza at the end of the zoo--kitty-corner from the new Lemur Multi-species Habitat. In preparation for the new entrance, the zoo took on a pair of Southern Pudu and a pair of Toco Toucans who were given a home in the old habitat at this juncture. Southern Pudu, a diminutive antelope from South America was brought to the zoo in part to excite the community and bolster contributions for the new entrance. In the present situation, both the Pudu and Toucans have been relocated to other AZA institutions.
The intention of the new Habitat is to create a venue where animals can be viewed both during the warmer months and within a building, during the colder months and inclement weather. Once completed, it will most likely become the home of a species of sloth along with a return of Toucans.
Any visit to any zoo is a crap shoot. On this visit, the Brandywine zoo's Bobcat was out, the Andean Condors weren't. No Pudu or Toucans, but lots of great viewing of Lemurs.